Coffin-cover



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet l L. G. KREGEL. OOFFIN COVER.

No. 454,363. Patented June 16,1891.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-S'neet 2. L. G. KREGELL GOFFIN COVER No. 454,863. PafientedJune 16,1891.

I km

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. L. G. KREGEL.

GOFPIN COVER.

Patented June 16,1891.

\vAS-NINGTON, o. c.

m: NOR s NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. KREGEL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

COFFlN-COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 454,363, dated June 16, 1891. Application tiled December 9, 1890. Serial No. 3%,090. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUIS G. KREGEL, of the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Oasket'Covers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description,

reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improved manner of constructing casket-covers, whereby the exposing of the remains to view is facilitated and the adaptability for ornamentation not interfered with.

The features of novelty will be fully described herein, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure I is a perspective view showing the sliding cover or cap drawn down from the head of the casket and the jointed part hanging vertically. Fig. II is an enlarged under perspective View of the sliding cover or cap. Fig. III is a top view of the casket with the cover closed and part broken away. Fig. IV is a top view with the cover drawn down from the head and the sliding glass pane drawn doivn a small distance from the head. Fig. V is a transverse section of the top, taken at V V, Fig. XII. Fig. VI is a transverse section of the top, taken at VI VI, Fig. XI. Fig. VII is a detail transverse section through one side of the top, showing the position of the upholstering'cloth over the rim; and Fig. VIII is a section of the same character, showing also a part of the cover and runner with a distance laid between the cover and rim to hold them the required distance asunder while the runner is being secured to the bracket, so as to allow space for reasons hereinafter explained. Fig. IX is a longitudinal section of the top with the cover closed. Fig. X is a longitudinal section of the top with the cover open. Fig. XI is a side View of the top with the cover closed and the bead-molding removed to disclose the runner and runnerbrackets, and Fig. XII is a similar view with the cover open.

1 is the body of the casket.

2 is the top, which is hinged to or otherwise connected to the body. The cover or cap is composed of two parts 3 and 4, of which 3 is the head-cap, and e the foot-cap. The caps 3 and 4: are connected together by hinges 5 allowing the foot-cap to fall down out of the way and hang vertically when the cover is drawn open, as seen in Figs. I, IV, X, and XII. In the sides of the top are made channels or grooves 6, in which work the runners 7, the runners being secured to the under sides of the head-cap by brackets 8. I prefer to make the runners of wood and the brackets of thin sheet metal, but do not confine myself to any special materials. The position of the run ners relatively to the under side of the cap 3 is such that there is space between the cap 3 and the upper rim 0 whether the rim is covered with cloth or not, so that there will be no friction between the parts, the cap 3 being sustained entirely by the runners and by anti-friction rollers or wheels to be hereinafter described.

In securing the runner to the brackets strips 11 are temporarily inserted between the cap 3 and rim 9, so as to keep them the desired distance asunder, and the runner being in the groove 6 is made fast to the brackets by screws. After the runners are made fast both they and the brackets, and also the grooves 6, are hidden by a bead-molding 12, which is placed at such a distance from the rim 9 as just to allow space 13 for the brackets, and as the cap 8 is extended outside the brackets it hides the space or slot 13 when the cover is closed.

It are bearing-rollers turning on pins or arbors 15, fixed to the top 2 and supporting the cover 3 4 at the foot of the casket and serving to render the movement of the cover easy when it extends below the foot, so that a large part of its weight is at that point. The front end of the cap 4: is supported on the hinges 5.

16 is a face-glass whose edges 17 slide in grooves 18 in the sides of the top, and which may be slipped toward the foot of the casket, as seen in Fig. X, or be closed up to the headrail of the top, as seen in Fig. IX.

19 is a tassel by which the pane 16 may be moved.

In order to slide the pane by means of the cover when the latter is being closed, the cover carries a projection 20, preferably having at the front end a pad 21, of rubber or leather, which impinges noiselessly against the end of the glass. With this construction the operator may close the glass and the cover while still at the foot of the casket without disturbance of the mourners.

22 is a catch by which the cover is secured in closed position. This catch is not shown as to its details, as. it will be made the subject of another application for patent.

The undertaker or operator may handle the cover entirely from the foot of the casket, taking hold of the sides of the cap t and holding it in a horizontal position. When the cover has been drawn down from the head, the cap 4= is turned down on the hinges into the po sition seen in Fig. I, so that persons may stand close to the foot of the casket, and the name-plate 23, which is placed upon the cap 3 near to cap 4, may be easily read by people entering from the foot of the casket.

It will be observed that the means of attachment of the runner 7 to the cover by means of brackets 8 and screws, which may be secured in anypart of the wooden runner, gives means for the adjustment of the cover upon the top, so that cloth of various thickness may be used for upholstering or the cloth dispensed with and the cover set higher or lower, as may be required.

I do not claim, broadly, the projection 20 on a sliding lid for closing the face-glass, but limit myself to the combination of said proj ection with my improved hinged cover.

I claim as my invention- 1. A casket-cover sliding on the body and composed of two rigid parts or caps 3 and 4, connected together by a transverse hingejoint, whereby when the cover is opened one of the sections will fall down out of the way, substantially as set forth.

2. A casket-top 2, having grooves 6, a cover '3 4., brackets 8, secured to the cap 3, and runners 7, adj ustably secured to the brackets and working in the groove 6, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, in a casket, of the cover composed of a head-cap 3, with runners sliding in grooves of the top, foot-cap 4:, hinged to the head-cap, and theanti-friction rollers 14, all constructed to operate substantially as set forth. 7

4:. The combination, in a casket, of the top 2, having grooves 6 in the outer sides of the body of the top, a cover composed of caps 3 and 4, brackets 8, secured to cap 3, runners 7, secured to the brackets and Working in the grooves 6, and the bead-molding 12, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination of the sliding cover composed of a head-cap 3 and a foot-cap 4:, hinged together and carrying a projection 20, and the face-glass 16, supported in guide-grooves in the side of the top 2, whereby the foot-cap will fall down out of the Way when the cover is opened and the face-glass will be automatically closed when the cover is closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

LOUIS G. KREGEL.

In presence of- SAML. KNIGHT, E. S. KNIGHT. 

